NEW: RI Heath Insurance Small Employer Task Force Meeting Tuesday June 17

NEW: RI Heath Insurance Small Employer Task Force Meeting Tuesday June 17

The Health Insurance Small Employer Taskforce will hold a Public Input Meeting Tuesday, June 17, encouraging small businesses that purchase group health insurance to speak out about rate increase requests submitted by 3 prominent healthcare providers to the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner.

“The Taskforce works to inform and engage small employers on health insurance issues. For too many small business owners, health insurance costs are already too high. Our goal is to make sure the commissioner knows the impact these unsustainable rate increases have on small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the state of RI. Since one of the commissioner's main directives is to protect consumers, we know our participation is important and that our input is a critical part of the rate review process,” said Mark Gray, coordinator of the Taskforce.

UnitedHealthcare filed for a 16% average increase on small employer plans, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI and Tufts Health Plan also filed for rate increases.  Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island is the only healthcare provider that filed for rates that are lower than their current approved base rate.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

“It is very encouraging to see lower rates filed by Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island – and it’s a real victory for consumers,” Gray said.  “Insurers need to know that the rates are too high now, and that employers cannot afford any additional payments.”

The Public Input Meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m. June 17^th at the Public Utilities Commission on Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick.  Organizations can also submit written comment via email to [email protected] by June 24, 2014 

Employers who want to participate can contact the Small Employer Taskforce at [email protected] for more information or for help preparing their remarks.